Spud wrench holder



May 10, 1949. A. N. HANSON SPUD WRENCH HOLDER Filed Jan. 5, 1947lrrok/vsy Patented May 10, 1949 UNITED STATES FATENT OFFICE (Grantedunder the act of March 3, 1883, as amended April 30, 1928; 370 O. G.757) 4 Claims.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or forthe Government of the United States for governmental purposes withoutthe payment to me of any royalty thereon in accordance with theprovisions of the act of April 30, 1928 (Ch. 460, 45 Stat. L. 467).

This invention relates to a holder for tools, such as wrenches which areused by riggers, steel workers, linemen and the like, and its object isto retain the tool securely when in any position, and at the same timepermit its ready withdrawal from and insertion in the holder.

Many workmen have been injured by tools and wrenches falling on themfrom fellow workers engaged at higher elevations, and it is an object ofthis invention to prevent the occurrence of such accidents.

With this in view, the invention consists of a flexible tool holder forattachment to a belt worn by the workman and having certaininstrumentalities which securely lock the tool in the holder againstaccidental displacement when in any position, all of which will be firstfully described and afterwards specifically pointed out in the appendedclaims.

Referring to the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the tool holder, which in the exampleshown is designed to hold an end wrench of the type known as a spudwrench.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the holder with wrench in locked positiontherein, and

Fig. 4 is a side elevation showing the wrench in the holder in fulllines and in dotted lines the positions which the wrench, spring lockingelement and flexible holder assume when the Wrench is being withdrawnfrom the holder.

Like numerals of reference indicate the same parts throughout theseveral figures, in which:

I indicates the holder which is preferably of a flexible material suchas leather and which is provided with a pair of vertical slots 2 toreceive a body belt 3. The holder I is also provided with asubstantially circular opening 4 in the depending body portion 5 of theholder as shown in the drawing.

Attached to the holder I, as by rivets 6 about centrally thereof is thestationary leaf I of the spring locking element 8. This locking element8 is similar to a spring hinge, in that it embodies a movable leaf 9pivotally connected to the stationary leaf I by a pintle In, about whichis coiled a spring II having one end I2 bearing upon the stationary leafI and its other end I3 bearing upon the movable leaf 9, said springacting to hold leaves I and 9 in substantially the same.

plane.

It wi l be noted from Fig. 2 that the movable leaf 9 of the lockingelement 8 is bent at I4 to form an outwardly and angularly extendingneck portion I5 which merges into a cross member I6, which is ofisetfrom the flexible holder I by the outwardly extending neck portion I5.In elevation the neck portion of the movable leaf 8 and the cross memberI6 may be said to be shaped like an inverted T.

ll indicates a spud wrench which has a bifurcated nut engaging end I8which is offset from the handle I9 by the curved neck or shank 20 whichconnects the handle !9 with the bifurcated end l8.

Having thus described the several parts of the invention, its operationis as follows:

In order to insert the wrench I! in the holder I, the movable leaf 9 ofthe locking element 8 is lifted up out of its normal locking position,and the wrench handle I9 is inserted in the opening 4 of the flexibleholder I so that the wrench assumes the position shown in full lines inFig. 4, the bifurcated end I8 of the wrench lying flat against thedepending body portion 5 of the flexible holder I, it being understoodthat the said opening 4 is large enough to receive the curved offsetneck portion I2 of the wrench, but is smaller than the bifurcated wrenchhead I8, so that said bifurcated head cannot pass through the saidopening 4.

When the wrench is in this position, the locking element 8 is permittedto assume its normal position under the influence of the spring II, sothat its outwardly inclined neck I5 assumes a. position within thewrench end I8 and between the bifurcated jaws thereof, while the crossmember it rests upon the face of the bifurcated wrench end, as bestshown in Fig. 3. It is therefore seen that the wrench cannot beaccidentally displaced from the holder no matter how the holder isturned or positioned so that all danger of the wrench accidentallyfalling from the holder is eliminated.

In order to remove the wrench from its holder, the movable leaf 9 of thelocking element 8 is lifted clear of the bifurcated wrench end I8, whichpermits the wrench to be withdrawn from the flexible holder I, thedepending flexible body portion 5 assuming a position as shown in dottedlines in Fig. 4, thus permitting withdrawal of the wrench in a straightline.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

1. A spud wrench holder which includes a flexible member having meansfor connection with a body belt, and provided with an opening for thereception of the handle of a spud wrench and of such size that thebifurcated wrench end will not pass through the said opening, a wrenchlocking element which includes a stationary leaf permanently attached tothe flexible wrenchholder adjacent the said opening therein, and whichalso includes a movable leaf hingedly connected to the stationary leafand a spring acting upon the stationary leaf and movable leaf to holdthe two leaves in substantially the same plane, the said movable leafincluding a reduced neck portion adapted to lie within the wrench endand between the bifurcated jaws thereof, and also including a crossmember adapted to rest upon the face of the bifurcated wrench end,whereby the wrench is retained against accidental displacement from theholder when the holder and wrench are in any position.

2. A spud wrench holder which comprises a member provided with anopening for the reception of the handle of a bifurcated end wrench, awrench locking element which includes two hinged leaves, one of saidleaves being attached to the said member adjacent the opening therein,the other of which leaves is provided with a reduced neck adapted to liewithin the wrench end and between the bifurcated jaws thereof and alsoprovided with a cross member adapted to rest upon the face of thebifurcated wrench end, whereby the wrench is retained against accidentaldisplacement from the holder when the holder and wrench are in anyposition.

3. A spud wrench holder which comprises a member provided with anopening for the reception of the handle of a bifurcated end wrench, awrench locking element attached to the said member adjacent the openingtherein, a portion of the wrench locking element being adapted to liewithin the wrench end and between the bifurcated jaws thereof and havinga portion adapted to rest upon the face of the bifurcated wrench end,whereby the wrench is retained against accidental displacement from theholder when the holder and wrench are in any position.

4. A spud wrench holder which comprises a member provided with anopening to receive the handle of a bifurcated wrench, and a wrenchlocking element attached to the said member adjacent the opening thereinand having one portion thereof adapted to lie between the bifurcatedjaws of a wrench and another portion thereof adapted to rest against theface of a bifurcated wrench end, whereby the wrench is retained againstaccidental displacement from the holder when the holder and wrench arein any position.

ADOLPH N. HANSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 952,10? Furber Mar. 15, 19101,216,110 Goodrow Feb. 13, 917

1,600,193 Michaud Sept. 14, 1926

